Carmen stared at the phone screen, her face frozen in complete shock. Her mouth hung open so wide I thought her jaw might have become unhinged.The confidence and smugness that had been radiating from her just moments before evaporated instantly."What... what is this?" Carmen whispered, her voice barely audible.The entire room fell silent as everyone noticed Carmen's dramatic change in expression. Her wide eyes were fixed on the phone screen in absolute disbelief, as if she was seeing something that couldn't possibly be real."Carmen?" Elena asked nervously. "What's wrong? Why do you look like you've seen a ghost?"Carmen's hands were trembling as she continued to stare at the screen. "This... this can't be right."Derek stepped closer, his earlier confidence beginning to waver. "What can't be right? Just show us the list so we can put an end to Michael's ridiculous fantasy."But Carmen couldn't speak. She just stood there, frozen in shock, holding the phone like it was a bomb that

MIACHEL'S POVDerek's face was flushed with anger as he watched Robert consider the possibility that I might be telling the truth. His carefully constructed lies were falling apart, and he was growing desperate."Wait!" Derek shouted, holding up his hands dramatically. "Don't let this fraud fool all of you!""Derek, maybe we should just—" Sarah started."No!" Derek interrupted harshly. "I'm not going to let Michael Thompson destroy my family's reputation with his pathetic schemes!"He pulled out his phone with aggressive determination. "I'm going to prove once and for all that this whole thing is fake!""How are you going to do that?" Elena asked hopefully."I'm calling my father right now," Derek declared. "He has direct connections to the mayor's office. He can contact the mayor personally to confirm whether their system was hacked.""That's a brilliant idea," Tina said with obvious relief. "Marcus Manning will get to the bottom of this immediately."Derek was already dialing, his e

After accepting Derek's bet, Sarah turned to him with determination in her eyes. "Give me the keys to your most expensive car right now."Derek looked confused. "What? Why?""I'm going to hold them," Sarah replied firmly. "That way, when Michael proves he really was invited, I can give him the keys immediately.""Sarah, you don't need to—" Derek started."Hand them over," Sarah demanded. "Unless you're not confident in your own bet?"Derek reluctantly pulled out a set of keys with a distinctive Lamborghini emblem. "Fine. But you'll be giving these right back to me in a few hours.""We'll see about that," Sarah said, slipping the keys into her purse.An hour later, we arrived at the Grand Palace Hotel, where the mayor's exclusive ceremony was being held. The building was illuminated with spotlights, and luxury cars lined the circular driveway as the city's elite made their grand entrances."Look at this place," Carmen whispered in awe. "I've never seen anything so magnificent.""Only t

MICHAEL'S POVAfter confirming with Victoria that she would pick me up later, I ended the call and returned to the head table where the Fletcher family was settling into their VIP seats. The ambiance was electric with anticipation as the city's most elite families gathered for what was clearly the evening's main event.A distinguished man in an elegant tuxedo stepped onto the stage, commanding immediate attention from the hundreds of guests. The conversations died down as he approached the microphone with the confidence of someone accustomed to addressing powerful audiences."Good evening, ladies and gentlemen," the man began, his voice carrying clearly throughout the ornate banquet hall. "My name is Damian Rodriguez, and I have the honor of serving as tonight's master of ceremonies."He paused as polite applause rippled through the audience."I've been entrusted with the responsibility of combining the various votes from our panel of judges and revealing the recipient of this year's

Before I could respond, Derek Manning appeared from behind a pillar near the hotel entrance, his face twisted with rage and humiliation."YOU!" he screamed, pointing an accusing finger at me. "You planned all of this to embarrass me in front of everyone!""Derek, calm down," Sarah said, stepping between us. "The evening is over. Just go home.""Go home?" Derek laughed bitterly. "After being publicly humiliated by this worthless fraud?"Without warning, Derek's fist connected with my jaw in a vicious punch that sent me staggering backward."Derek, stop!" Sarah screamed."You must have blackmailed the Mayor somehow!" Derek shouted, advancing for another attack. "There's no way someone like you could legitimately earn this kind of recognition!"He swung again, this time catching me in the ribs.The pain flared through my body, but what bothered me more was seeing Sarah's frightened face."You're nothing but a con artist!" Derek continued his assault. "A pathetic loser who somehow manipul